{
  "id": 16427019,
  "title": "Japan's 'karaage' fried chicken hubs join forces to boost regional tourism in Oita Pref.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/japans-karaage-fried-chicken-hubs-join-forces-to-boost-regional",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T04:00:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20261023/p2a/00m/0li/005000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAKATSU, Oita -- Nakatsu and Usa, two cities in Japan's Oita prefecture, have teamed up to promote their shared love for karaage, a deep-fried chicken specialty. The cities created a digital tourism map to showcase local karaage restaurants and attractions, with the goal of encouraging visitors to explore the region and spend more money. The map, accessible on smartphones and other devices, includes 36 karaage eateries in Nakatsu and 21 in Usa, as well as 30 tourist spots. The platform is available in multiple languages, including English, Chinese, and Korean. The initiative, known as the Karaage City Project, was launched in April through a joint declaration signed by the two municipalities. To kick off the project, Nakatsu and Usa are hosting a digital stamp rally from October 20 to December 20, offering visitors stamps and prize drawings for collecting them. The project cost 6 million yen (approximately $38,000), and organizers hope that by enjoying karaage, tourists will also discover other attractions in Nakatsu and Usa.",
  "summary": "NAKATSU, Oita -- This city in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Oita, which brands itself as the \"holy land\" of \"karaage,\" a Japanese style deep fr",
  "key_points": [
    "Nakatsu and Usa cities collaborate on Karaage City Project",
    "Digital map showcases 36 Nakatsu and 21 Usa karaage eateries",
    "Project aims to boost regional tourism and spending"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}